Joshua is crowned the winner!

I can't say I was surprised that Joshua won, but I was surprised that Katee wasn't with him in the top 2. I loved that we were able to see the door piece again, and Will and Katee make the turn that they missed originally. I wish I could have blogged it all, but my last 2 weeks of SYTYCD were filled with chaos, and I was lucky enough to watch with friends and family as the show wrapped up.

As far as blogging reality TV, it looks like I will have to wait until America's Next Top Model, or maybe I can catch you all up on Project Runway-which will be especially fun this Wednesday if you haven't checked it out. The designers must compete by creating a unique look for a drag queen. It should provide some crazy moments.

At the moment we are just watching non-stop Olympic coverage and have been screaming on Michael Phelps and the other swimmers. Between all of the events and the drama with the gymnastics it has proven to be must see TV at our house.

I hope you all enjoyed the season and that some of you are able to catch the dancer's on tour this fall. I have enjoyed your feedback as much as show!!
God Bless!

Spoiler Alert

Hi all! My sincere apologies for not getting the blog up in time last week. It was a wild week, and although I wrote it, it never made it to the computer phase.
My thoughts on Mark and Chelsie are mixed. I knew without a doubt that Katee and Joshua had secured final four spots, but any of the other four dancers deserved to be in the other two spots. I thought technically, Courtney deserved to get it. She has been slowly and steadily coming out every week working hard and dancing beautifully. Emotionally, I would have loved to see Chelsie get it. Her passion for dance and her performances were so intense, and I was really sad for her to go home. With the guys, it was a mixed bag as well. I thought Mark had a better week than Twitch. His dancing is powerful and unique. It was, as I predicted it would be, a sad night.
Before ever seeing tonight's show, I think based on what I am reading on the blogs, it will be a tight race between Joshua and Katee. I have a feeling that Joshua will get it. It seems every year since the first season, when it comes down to the final two-the winner is not necessarily the best of the two dancers, but the most popular. (Benji-Travis and Danny-Sabra). Let's be honest, the show keeps getting bigger and better and FOX just signed on the dotted line to buy SYTYCD Season 5, so I am going to enjoy whatever happens. It has been a great summer of dancing and I am sad it will be over tomorrow night. I will probably start blogging Project Runway after this show is over. If you haven't tuned in this season- there are some BIZARRE designers on there this year.
As far as the spoilers for tonight, here they are.
I also need to give a shout out to my girl Tasha and congratulate her on her twin boys arriving yesterday. I imagine she will be watching SYTYCD from the hospital with a baby in each arm!
Here is the what was taped, but no one can confirm the order. They had to tape out of order apparently-and the taping went until 1 in the morning. Most exciting will be the dance with combined dancers from other seasons.

SPOILERS for the August 6 performance episode:

Twitch and Courtney - Hip Hop (Napoleon and Tabitha)
Joshua and Katee - Lyrical (Wade Robeson)
Courtney and Katee - Broadway (Tyce)(to the Trolley Song from Meet Me in St. Louis)
Twitch and Joshua - Russian Trepak (Yuri ?)(what is this?)
Twitch and Katee - Foxtrot (Tony and Melanie)
Courtney and Joshua - Jive (Jason Gilkinson)
Third judge is Mandy Moore.
Mia choreographed a top 4 routine to some song with bagpipes.

SPOILERS for the August 7 results episode:
Mary Murphy and Dmitry do a samba.
Nigel tap dances with the Debbie Allen Academy dancers.
Jonas Brothers will perform "Burnin' Up"
Dancers will perform "Homage to the Rabbits" from Criss Angel's Believe choreographed by Wade Robeson.
Dancers from past seasons will perform.

Let me know your thoughts!

The Top 8

Today I write from Mason, Ohio where I am getting my fill of dancing while I hang with my daughter on her job. We did have the opportunity to enjoy the top 8 last night, and as I write I can't believe we are two weeks from a finale. Last week we had the shock of Kherington's early departure, who knows what will happen tonight? I have a pretty good suspicion that Comfort's nine lives on this show are almost over. Before tonight's performances, I was sure that for the girls it would be Katee and Chelsie in the finale. The boys are a little harder to predict. However, after watching Courtney pull out all the stops tonight, I wouldn't mind an upset that found her in the final four. I don't believe that I could call a winner at this point, the dancer's are all so entertaining and talented. As the show started, Cat, looking very lean in her skin tight black dress, introduces us to the guest judge Toni Basil. Of "Hey Mickey". Let's break down the dancing from the start.

THE PERFORMANCES

Will and Courtney
Samba by Jean-Marc Genereux
I Fell in Love with a DJ by Che'Nelle
Courtney came out smoking hot on this very sexy number, and she looked gorgeous in yellow. She and Will had good connections and great chemistry, but I found my eyes drawn to Courtney at all times. Her energy was infectious and she made the dance as great as it was. Nigel predicted that it would be a great night. Mary was looking for Ashton to see if she had been punked. Let me tell you, this was not the last dumb thing she said this evening. Toni enjoyed it so much she forgot she was judging. Aside from looking chiseled in his mesh top, Will kind of faded behind Courtney this time around for me.

Lyrical Hip-Hop by Tabitha and Napoleon
Like You'll Never See Me Again by Alicia Keyes
After the build up, I was expecting another "Bleeding Love" or "No Air" to begin. It was a well put together number, and I thought they danced it well, but it wasn't in the same league. I kept thinking I should be feeling a whole lot more from this, and I just didn't. Nigel thought it was incredible stuff. Mary thought they blew her expectations out of the water. Toni said that all dance is art, and art should make you feel something.

Will's solo was to "Get Up Offa That Thing" by James Brown, and he came out in character and took a risk by trying to show a fun-loving side. It was a smart and daring move on his part, but at this stage of the competition, I am not sure if it was enough to steal any Josh or Twitch fans.

Courtney's solo was a contemporary piece to "Where I Stand" by Missy Higgins. It took my breath away. It was for me, by far, the most amazing solo of the evening. It was technically difficult, but it was the emotional execution that did it for me. I felt like she put every thing she had on that stage and I was moved. Maybe it was her back story, that was so similar to my Teeny's, but after watching it, I would be just as happy to see her in the finale as Chelsie Hightower.

Twitch and Katee
Contemporary with Mia Michaels
Mercy by Duff
The concept of this dance was a woman crazy in love with someone who was completely cool and unaffected by the relationship. With each moment that Twitch was to act disinterested, Katee's craziness would be amped up a level. There was a door in the center of the stage that was utilized by Katee as she tried to break it down, and by Twitch as he tried to push her out. I was completely believing their story from that first passionate kiss to the very last second. This number showcased both of their strengths, but it also was so unexpected from Mia. It will be the first thing I re-watch when I get home this weekend! Nigel thought it was fantastic. Mary did a really bad knock knock joke. Suffice it to say that she liked it. Toni said "aren't you both lucky?" to get a Mia Michael's masterpiece that is.

Broadway by Tyce DiOrio
Sweet Georgia Brown by Bubblin Brown Sugar
This was great fun, and got the crowd going. Katee has had a Broadway piece with Tyce like three or four times now, so she has his style down. Nigel loved that this piece was relevant to Broadway. Mary thought it was terrific. Toni would have liked to see a little bit rougher character played by Katee to match the character of the vocal, but still loved it.

Twitch's solo was to "Go To Work" by Kay L and was of the same caliber of his other solos. His personality fills the stage and he is a great performer, but I am not sure that this particular solo stuck out in some way from his others.

Katee's solo was to "Taking Chances" by Celine Dion and was also technically perfect and beautiful to watch. It wasn't as raw as Courntey's performance, but I love this dancer and have seen her flawlessly execute so many different styles of dance that I can't imagine that she hasn't earned herself a spot in the finale.

Mark and Comfort
Hip Hop by Tabitha and Napoleon
Party People by Fergie featuring Nelly
I find it interesting how Comfort has drawn the hip-hop once again, and just when I think I have seen all she has to offer, she surprises me. This number was energetic and story based. They had the perfect energy, they complimented each other and they were completely together. I loved Mark in this dance, and I was so glad to see that he wasn't going home without a fight. Nigel said it was incredible. Mary said it was a great job. Toni said it was rooted in the beat. Oh, and she also said a lot about organic movement. I don't know what she is talking about, but it sounded good.

Foxtrot by Jean-Marc Genereux
Lady Luck by Brian Setzer Orchestra
This for me was a respectable showing by Mark, but I thought that Comfort was battling through it. The styling was really jazz based, and for me it was pretty forgettable. Nigel said Lady Luck just walked right out of the room. Mary said it was tough to watch. Toni said that it was good in the jazz parts, but had a dance recital feel to it.

Mark's solo was to "Creator" by Santogold featuring Switch & Freq Nasty (what is up with these names?) It was the typical craziness that we have come to enjoy from Mark, but I am not sure that he went as far as he needed to, to unseat the other favorites.

Comfort's solo was to I Got this Down, and it while it had a couple of interesting moments, I didn't see any real surprises in this solo. She certainly didn't do enough to make it past the other three.

Joshua and Chelsie
Argentine Tango with Dmitry Chaplin
A Los Amigos from Forever Tango (Original Cast)
From the first moments in rehearsal with these two, you are already pulling for them. They are funny, hard working, and establish chemistry before they ever step foot onstage. This was probably one of the few Tango's that I have enjoyed this much. The chemistry made the complicated leg movements seem secondary, although from every thing I could see they both nailed it. It was sexy and controlled and complicated movements made easy. Nigel thought it was technically the most difficult thing we had seen all evening. Mary said it all translated perfectly and they were on the train. Toni said it was organically perfect and spontaneously torrid. This girl is good.

Disco with Dorianna Sanchez
Everlasting Love by Gloria Estefen
This number had some of the most challenging lifts of the evening, as they kept reminding us that some were being used on SYTYCD for the first time. Joshua's strength was tested, and for the most part he seemed to stay in character throughout, but I thought he looked tired toward the end. They both are great performers, so the performance outweighed the couple of awkward moments. Nigel thought they carried it off well. Mary said they were dancing their bodies full tilt (?). Toni thought they captured the spirit of disco, if not always the technique.

Joshua's solo was to "Shawty Get Loose" by Lil Mama featuring T-Pain and Chris Brown. Joshua's solo was the best of the boys, and I felt that he tried to put even more heart and soul onstage to fight for a spot next week. I can't imagine he won't get it.

Chelsie's solo was to "Damage" by Danity Kane and was a typical ballroom solo, but not by a typical ballroom dancer. I love this girl, and I think she was done fantastic on this show in each and every partner dance she has been in.

BEST OF THE NIGHT
Katee and Twitch's Contemporary and Joshua and Chelsie's Tango.

WORST OF THE NIGHT
Mark and Comfort's Foxtrot

Going home-Mark and Comfort

Tune in tonight......

The Top 10!!

Well my SYTYCD friends, we have so much to discuss! The evening started a half-hour late at my house-due to birthday cupcakes (my niece is 15 today-Yeah Melissa) and chocolate martinis (just for Crystal, Janet Anna, Caitlin and me-the birthday girl got a cupcake with a glass of milk). Once we added the Beans, Dingo, and the man I will now and forever refer to as “The Potted Earth” to the above group-we were ready for some serious dancing.
The night started off with only (gasp) 9 dancers during the introductions. Allowing Jessica to explain her injury was a nice touch, and it makes you wonder how much of Jessica’s passion we haven’t really been allowed to see since she has been dancing with that big of an injury all season. Lil’C was the guest judge. I am going to say that where I prefer Mia to choreography rather than judging, the opposite was true of Lil’C. I was preparing for some of the foolishness we have gotten from Cecily and Olisa over the years when they sat in those chairs (highlights: “blah blah blah blah” and “what he said”) Lil’C had great insight and gave constructive criticism on all the styles of dance. Who knew?
Each dancer had two couple dances and one solo, and if you actually believe that this was a random hat draw you probably believe the front of the New Yorker too! Let’s break it down:


THE PERFORMANCES (COUPLES)

Courtney & Joshua

Hip-Hop w/ Dave Scott - "Skippin'," Mario
I was hooked from the first facial that Courtney pulled when Joshua electrified his Bride to life! Joshua is such a powerful dancer, and I was blown away by the energy he brought to the dance. What Courtney may have lacked in Hip-Hop expertise she made up for with the pure entertainment value of her performance. There was comedy, great chemistry and I thought for the dreaded first dance of the night; it is the one that I am still thinking about. Lil’C thought Joshua killed, but Courtney did a great job too. Mary asked herself if she thought they did well, and then answered with a “yes they did”. Nigel gave credit to Dave Scott. I agree with Nigel, that was good stuff.
Rhumba w/ Jean-Marc Genereaux - "Hero," Enrique Iglesias
You never know what Jean-Marc is going to come up with, and when this song starting playing I immediately got the giggles. (Enrique is so Telemundo, with all that angst he is packing). Once I got a hold of myself, I really did enjoy the chemistry that these two brought to this piece. It was sexy, and Joshua impresses me with his ballroom passion. Lil’C loved it. Mary said it was fantastic. Crystal said Joshua should always wear those pants. (When you have guest judges in the family room, you need to quote them sometimes too). Nigel said it fit their bodies, to which Joshua got in a funny comment in about Will and Twitch running around naked on the stage all the time. These two dancers had a great night.

Kherington & Mark

Two-Step w/ Ronnie DeBenedetta & Brandi Tobias - "Kick Back," Ty England
Brandi moved about twice as fast as these two did, and she was like 13 months pregnant. I think it is important to represent all different genres of dance, if you are going to appeal to a larger audience than just dancers and the people who love them. I applaud the effort. If we are going to have a bi-monthly Krump or QuickStep, we can at least show that there is much more to Two-Step than moving in a square. This should have been a high energy, quick twirling good time. It was a hot mess, and from the word go, I am not sure they ever got up to tempo or made even half of their connections. Even the lifts looked labored and not a bit fun. Lil’C tried to compliment their characters, but had to concede the mistakes that were made. Mary said a lot of stuff, but none of it was that interesting. Gina said it was like a bad dance competition number. (Yes, I had another guest critic at the house). The best that Nigel could say was that they didn’t give up. Yikes.
Jazz w/ Tyce DiOrio - "Canned Heat," Jamiroquai
The overall dancing in this piece was flawless. They both had great technique and plenty of personality on stage. There was a little something missing, and not being a dancer I am not sure what it was. Caitlin thought maybe they were let down by the choreography. My eyes were drawn more to Mark’s energy than to Kherington’s but I am not sure if was that they didn’t establish chemistry the first go around and this wasn’t enough to make it happen for either of them? I will be curious to read your comments, because this was a tough one for me. I love both of these dancers but thought they had a rough go around tonight. Lil’C thought they needed to be careful in the lifts. Mary wasn’t jumping up and down in her seat. Nigel said it was like a driving test. Everything checked off, but there was no passion.

Comfort & Twitch

Smooth Waltz w/ Hunter Johnson - "Open Arms," Journey
Oh my. What in the world did you think was going to happen when you forced these two to do another Waltz? Let’s just say, they executed the lift at the end. I didn’t believe for one minute that they were in love, or that they really got this style of dance. Twitch was stiff, and Comfort’s bad technique was ever apparent. It was exactly as awkward as I expected it to be. Lil’C thought it didn’t float. Mary said there was no rise and fall. Nigel said it wasn’t strong enough for a top 10 dancer.
Hip-Hop w/ Dave Scott - "Forever," Chris Brown
For as awful as the Waltz was, this number was that much more amazing. For the first time on the show, I thought Comfort was in the zone and she was fantastic. She held her own with Twitch, who killed it out there. You could feel the energy from the crowd pumping the two of them up, and the dance kept building up. I loved both of them! Lil’C said they were in the Land of Buck. Mary said she thought it was buck as well. Nigel said it was so good that it looked like it wasn’t choreographed. Since Comfort will probably go home tonight, I am glad she had this dance to finish out her stay.

Katee & Will

Broadway w/ Tyce DiOrio - "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat." (Guys and Dolls) Sam Harris
These two have both got it going on, and it is no coincidence that they were paired for the numbers that they were given. Will is a judge favorite who lacks charisma and comes off as a member of the dance elite. They needed to give him something to show some character and fun, and putting him with fan favorite Katee was the best gift they could have given him. I didn’t think it was the best Broadway routine Tyce has ever put together, but it was danced perfectly and was a lot of fun. Lil’C said (surprise) it was buck. Mary was hopping on the love boat. Nigel said that for being contained in a small space, their dancing was large.
Pas De Deux w/ Dwight Roden & Desmond Richardson - "Imagine," David Archuleta
This piece prompted my husband to ask what was meant by a “potted earth”. You can just imagine the hysteria that followed. We almost had to pause the show. This was technically the most difficult piece I have ever seen on this show, and with the exception of one labored turn, it was gorgeous. Once again Will was able to showcase his amazing abilities, but Katee was right there with him. You could tell when it was over she was beating herself up for the missed turn, but she needn’t have worried. By the time Nigel finished his dissertation on Desmond Richardson, we were all talking amongst ourselves and it was no longer really an issue. Mary was almost moved to tears. I can’t say that I had that reaction. I appreciated it for what it was, but there have been plenty of other dances on this stage this season that I enjoyed more. Hopefully this will change a few things for Will in the popularity department.

Chelsie & Gev

Contemporary w/ Sonya Tayeh - "These Arms of Mine," Otis Redding
I loved this piece. For me, it was the most unique of the evening. I thought they really nailed the emotion, and Chelsie was completely captivating. I am so drawn to her face when she dances, she is 100% committed to whatever character she is given. I never think about her being a ballroom dancer, she is so versatile. Lil’C gave it up to them. Mary said they had amazing chemistry. Nigel felt it. I thought that Chelsie was more present in the number than Gev was, but I was still moved by both of their performances.
Jive w/ Jean-Marc Genereaux - "The House Is Rockin'," Brian Setzer
This was cute. It was fun. I thought they danced it well, and had pretty good partnering and had high energy. I can't say much beyond that. It is something I am not going to remember much about in the morning. Lil’C thought Chelsie could dance with a mannequin and make it look good. Mary said it was terrific. Nigel said it was a crowd-pleaser, so I guess it was a great way to end the show.

THE PERFORMANCES (SOLOS)
1. Chelsie
Pon de Replay," Rihanna
For everything that Chelsie brings to her partnerships, she didn’t bring much to this solo. Respecting that most ballroom dancers don’t do solos, I thought she had great use of the stage, and threw a nice kick in there with all that hip swaying. I thought the dress was butt ugly, and didn’t add to the dance. She had a great night in both of her partner dances, and I think she has enough of a fan base that this solo won’t hurt her a bit.

2. Gev
"Hello/Goodbye (Uncool)," Lupe Fiasco f. Unkle
Gev had great energy and attitude, but it seemed like something went wrong with his trick at the beginning of the dance that threw him a little. I loved his move within his split, and I do think he brings something a little different to the competition. I am a little worried about him after tonight. I don’t think he stood out against his partner, and I think the fact that Twitch and Joshua are still dancing so strong hurts Gev. Unfortunately, I think he will be going home.

3. Courtney
"I Want You to Need Me," Celine Dion
I thought after she spun and dropped to the floor that she had to have busted that knee. It sounded and looked painful. I thought she danced beautifully otherwise, and after her two dances tonight, I am looking at her in a whole new way.

4. Mark
"Bohemian Rhapsody," Queen
This was by far my favorite solo of the night. I loved the uniqueness and his bizarre movement. I thought it was brilliant of him to almost create the instruments with his body and if all that quirkiness wasn’t enough for you, you had that ending pose to seal the deal. Whatever he missed on in his two groups tonight he completely made up for with this. I loved it.

5. Comfort
"Need a Boss," Shareefa f. Ludacris
This was more of the same we have come to expect from a Comfort solo. I actually couldn’t decipher the differences in her solos, and we have seen a lot of them since the show began. I think she ends her run here on a good note. I will be shocked if she stays.

6. Twitch
"I Question Mark," Wade Robson
Twitch was my superman for sure. I love this guy when he gets a chance to shine. He is the total package from amazing hip-hop to great entertainment. I think Twitch will be forgiven that God-awful waltz after those two hip-hop routines. Fantastic.

7. Katee
"This Woman's Work," (MTV Unplugged) Maxwell
Hey Janet, I think someone from the studio did a dance to this number! (Ha ha). This piece was a real gift to the audience. Katee dances with such purity and joy, and I could have watched her over and over. I can’t imagine a finale without her in it.

8. Will
"Dance With My Father," Luther Vandross
Will, perhaps building on his work to come across more personably to the audience put more heart and soul into this piece than we have seen before. It is not a song that I care for, but I enjoyed his performance. I think Will is still going to have to fight for his spot in the finale, despite his brilliant dancing.

9. Kherington
"Breakin' Dishes," Rihanna
I was pulling for Kherington to break out and wow us after the rough night she had on stage. I think she is a gorgeous dancer, but this solo wasn’t memorable at the end of the day. I can’t imagine that Comfort could beat her out this week, but I am worried for her future in the competition.

10. Joshua
"Jam," Michael Jackson
I love this guy. He was every bit as hard hitting and entertaining as Twitch was. The difference was he had a strong night on both of his partner dances and seems to bring the right flavor to every performance. It is going to be interesting to see which order these guys get sent home in, they are all so great.

BEST OF THE NIGHT
The Potted Earth and Gev and Chelsie

WORST OF THE NIGHT
The Two-Step and the Waltz

FUNNIEST CAT MOMENT
"Nobody puts Comfort in a corner."

MOST UNINTELLIGIBLE COMMENT
Comfort’s (the one before “it’s all good”).

Three group numbers tonight folks!

St. Louis didn't make the tour

Hi SYTYCD friends,
Below is the link to the official press release of the tour dates and St. Louis isn't on the tour this year. Unfortunately, if St. Louis fans really want to see the dancers live, you will have to go to Kansas City or to Chicago. My daughter Teeny has sent a pleading email, but we will just have to see how that goes.


http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/19-entertainment-and-dick-clark,469435.shtml

Behind the Scenes Links

Mia Michael's on her group piece

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPTBN4hjGx0

Tyce DiOrio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDsBHDyMEpE

The Top Ten Spoilers-I hope these Rumors are True!!

From TWOP by way of Idol Forums:

Lil’ C is the Guest Judge. Each pair dances two routines.

Courtney and Joshua - Hip hop by Dave Scott, Rumba by Jean Marc Generaux
Mark and Kherington - Two Step by Ronnie DeBenedetta and Brandi Tobias, Jazz
Twitch and Comfort - Waltz, Hip hop by Dave Scott - Song: “Forever” by Chris Brown
Will and Katee - Broadway by Tyce DiOrio, Pas de Deux by Desmond Richardson
Chelsie and Gev - Contemporary by Sonya Tayeh, Jive by Jean Marc Generaux

Okay-I don't believe for one minute that these names and dances were picked out of a
hat. Please. Twitch and Comfort get hip hop? Will and Katee a Pas de Deux by Desmond Richardson (the same Desmond that he was just compared to on the show recently)? Come
on, they aren't even attempting to be coy.
That being said-I can't wait to see that Pas de Deux-it will probably be the highlight of the evening.

Three group routines.

Girls choregraphed by Mia Michaels
Guys choreographed by Chuck Moldonado
Top 10 Bollywood dance

Group numbers? That is awesome!

Plus solos! This will be one jam packed 2 hours of dance!

For Thursday:

Chuck Maldonado is choreographing.
Lady Gaga is the musical guest.

Jessica Out-Comfort Back In

So You Think You Can Dance panel

9:16 am: Big news! It's announced that contestant Jessica King has suffered an injury and has been replaced by the recently eliminated Comfort Fedoke. EW's Alynda Wheat informs me that this is "big news." Oh, wait, make that "really huge deal." (Sorry, still not watching SYTYCD.)

9:29 am: Exec producer Nigel Lythgoe refuses to elaborate on the specifics of King's injury, saying only that she'll be out for "four to five weeks."

9:32 am: Mary Murphy is going on about some "hot tamale train." I ask Alynda if that's a specialty division of Amtrak. She shoots me daggers.

9:40 am: A reporter essentially asks Murphy if she's aware that half the population can't stand her. "For dancers, I've always had enthusiasm," she responds. "I've been like this my whole life. My laugh has been like this my whole life. My laugh is actually kind of toned down on the show."

9:50 am: Crikey, Alynda is foaming at the mouth! What's wrong?! "Courtney's with Joshua this week!" she squeals. I proceed to slap her. She slaps me back. A Fox page pulls us apart.

9:51 am: The panel concludes.

Coming up next: The executive session!

Goodbye to Thayne and Comfort

I was completely unsurprised by the bottom three couples, by the elimination, and by the overall sadness I felt about Thayne not being part of the top 10.
I did read this morning that he has been asked to participate on the tour-so that is exciting.

I have a feeling that this week will be a big challenge for some of the dancers as they are put with different partners. I can't wait.

For those who like to browse, I have attached a link to some great photos of Mia Michaels from Movement magazine.
I will be in touch...

http://www.movmnt.com/albums/album/72157600050634888/photo/447695826/In-Bed-with-Mia-all-pics-inbedmia-001.html

The Top 12

After much confusion at my house last night (my daughter and I arrive back from dinner only to find that my son and 7 of his posse are knee deep in a thriller on the only TV that has a dvr), I sat down to watch the show after 10:30. I don’t know if it was all of the build up (there was a lot of freaky violin music emanating from the basement during the viewing of what I would later learn was “The Eye”). Maybe it was just that last week was so enjoyable I couldn’t wait for more, but I was a little let down after the performances last night. First of all, I am disappointed in Nigel as a judge this year. He has just become so perverse with his critiques of some of these dancers (poor 18 year old Chelsie Hightower) and while I absolutely love Mia Michael’s as a choreographer, as a judge I don’t think she gives these dancer’s any advice that can be deciphered. At times she borders on cruelty, and I don’t think it is necessary in the context of this show. Let’s get on with the dancing:

THE PERFORMANCES

Mark & Chelsie
Salsa w/ Alex Da Silva - "Fuego," Joe Bataan
I thought both Chelsie and Mark brought the passion required for this dance, and that the delivery was extremely sexy and enjoyable. I won’t say that I went back for a second viewing (like last week with about 3 or 4 of the numbers), but I was completely entertained, as I always am by these two. Nigel thought it was terrific, but proceeded to get a little creepy with his comments about Chelsie’s outfit. Mary thought it was beautiful and dynamic. Mia thought it was smoking hot.
Broadway w/ Tyce DiOrio - "I'm a Woman," Smokey Joe's Cafe (Original Cast)
I thought this choreography was so much fun, and the two of them always deliver if they are given characters to play. This time was no exception. I thought they had great energy and the quality of the performance was very professional. Nigel thought the routine was hot (here we go again). Mary thought it was sultry, sexy, bluesy, blah, blah, blah…Mia thought they told the story very well, but that Mark’s lack of training showed. She said he was lucky that he performs so well that he makes you not care. Then she told Chelsie she wanted more movement. What the f Mia? What does that even mean? I realize I am not a dancer, but I sure didn’t see it that way.

Thayne & Comfort
Hip-Hop w/ Tabitha & Napoleon - "Can We Chill," Ne-Yo
I have to be really honest here; I didn’t notice Comfort in this piece. I found myself drawn to Thayne, who I think is a really solid hard working dancer. He has taken a ton of criticism for things out of his control, and I thought he worked hard at a connection with Comfort, even though it didn’t really come over. Nigel thought they didn’t play off of each other. Mary thought they didn’t have chemistry. Mia thought it was more than just a good performance, but they were lacking a connection between them.
Contemporary w/ Mandy Moore - "A Different Corner," George Michael
I thought that Thayne was gorgeous in this very beautiful work by Mandy Moore, but I felt almost nothing coming from Comfort. Unfortunately, next to Thayne, her bad feet and lazy legs really stood out. I was sad that the judges were so harsh with both of them, because I saw a side of Thayne that I would love to see again in the top 10. Nigel basically said the choreography was too good for them as a couple. Mary said they were not believable. Mia finally gave Thayne his due by telling him that he was gorgeous and that she couldn’t wait to work with him in the future.

Will & Jessica
Contemporary w/ Tyce DiOrio - "Silence," Unfaithful (soundtrack)
Will is a beautiful man and a breathtaking dancer, so I guess each week they will just keep showing him in less and less clothing. I found the music not working for me in this piece, but I thought the shapes they made with their bodies were gorgeous, when Jessica wasn’t struggling for balance. (Tell me I am not the only one who saw a few awkward moments in her performance?) There is no doubt that based on Will’s ability and talent, he deserves to be in the top 10. He has earned the opportunity to work with some of these other dancers and find the chemistry that he and Jessica, for me, are just lacking. Nigel thought it was an extraordinary piece of art. Mary thought it was the most amazing piece she has ever seen on the show. (Really Mary? I don’t think so). Mia thought that Tyce explored newness and that it was like a brilliant painting. So this is once again how we handle Will and Jessica, a lot of comments about the choreography, not so many about the execution.
Quick Step w/ Tony Meredith & Melanie LaPatin - "Bandstand Boogie," Barry Manilow
I guess I really don’t like Quickstep any more than I like Krump. I was bored to tears during this number, and I thought both Will and Jessica were only a small step ahead of me in the enthusiasm department. The whole performance was pushed towards tricks because of their obvious discomfort with the actual dance. Nigel thought they gave a great performance, but not so great of a quickstep (sorry Nigel, that performance was not great). Mary gave a long detailed explanation of why their quickstep didn’t work, which was unbelievably more boring than the actual dance. Mia thought Jessica went back to a disconnected, insecure place, and then crossed a line when she said it looked like Will was tired of carrying her. I have no patience for that kind of criticism. It has nothing in it that a dancer can work on, and was cruel and unnecessary.

Gev & Courtney
Cha-Cha w/ Pasha Kovalev & Anya Garnis - "Don't Stop the Music (The Wideboys Club Mix)," Rihanna
This was the first time for me that Courtney and Gev got to really connect with the audience during their rehearsal tapes. Having Anya and Pasha choreograph was such a thrill and I absolutely loved this number. They were so clean and so together for the times that they were performing separately, and I thought Gev (who I was ready to send packing) stood out in his execution of this dance. I thought he actually carried his body like a ballroom dancer, and from the second the music started I was hooked. Nigel thought it was abso-bloody-lutely great. Mary cha cha cha’d herself back onto my last nerve. Mia said it was fabulosity at its best. She also said that they weren’t the two best dancers on the show, but that they had great performance quality. I think they are great dancers. I thought Will, who is beyond any other male dancer in modern times if you listen to these judges, looked awkward and out of sorts during his Quickstep. Gev and Courtney became ballroom dancers in this number and that does take talent.
Broadway w/ Mandy Moore - "Standing There," The Creatures
I really enjoyed this routine that took us on a trip with a map as the main prop. The energy and quirkiness of this dance had me entertained, and I thought both were totally committed to their characters. I believe with these two solid numbers tonight, Courtney and Gev have earned themselves a spot in the top 10. Nigel thought it was all cotton candy, and nothing but a bit of fun. Mary disagreed and loved everything about it. Mia said that they both had a great night, and they were here favorite couple of the night. I would have to almost agree with her for a change. I really warmed up to these two underdogs today.

Twitch & Kherington
Krump w/ Lil'C - "2 Buck 4 TV," Tha J-Squad
Okay, I really still don’t like this style of dance, although I was wowed by the attack that both of them started out with on this number. I thought Twitch was in his glory, but that Kherington held her own for at least the first half of the dance. I don’t care for all of the anger (I don’t care what you say Lil’C-it comes off angry not passionate) and ugliness in this style of dance. I think there are enough styles of dancing that SYTYCD doesn’t need this particular one, and it only serves to hurt the dancers that get stuck with it, no matter how popular they are. Nigel thought the first minute was great and only decided to focus on that. Hey, where is that kind of slack when we are judging poor Thayne? Mary thought it was the first time she believed the dance on this show. Mia thought it was dirty, nasty, and she loved it, but again commented on how it lost energy mid way through.
Smooth Tango w/ Jean-Marc Genereaux - "Assassin's Tango," Mr & Mrs Smith (soundtrack)
This Tango just didn’t do it for me. I thought that Twitch didn’t have the right carriage and that he didn’t bring the same performance level as Kherington. I also didn’t buy that they were trying to kill each other, and maybe some of that was lacking in the choreography. I am not sure. Nigel thought Twitch wasn’t honest, so it didn’t work. Mary loved the beginning, the end, but not the middle. Mia said it was mediocre. These two have really been great for the most part, so I am not truly worried for them, but this is sometimes when you get one of those surprises in the bottom three, and I hope that doesn’t happen to them because of a forgettable night.

Joshua & Katee
Viennese Waltz w/ Jean-Marc Genereaux - "Iris," Goo Goo Dolls
I thought this dance was beautiful, and from start to finish I was completely captivated. I can’t believe how good these two are together when the music starts. I have been impressed with the show’s take on the Waltz this season, and haven’t been bored with it yet. Nigel thought Joshua was too bouncy. Mary said the dancing wasn’t great, but the lifts were perfect. Mia said it was not their best, but thought that Katee was a gift to dance.
Bollywood w/ Nakul Dev Mahajan - "Dhoom Taana," Om Shanti Om (soundtrack)
I have to say this performance was a mixed bag for me. I thoroughly enjoy cultural dance, and while having absolutely no idea if it looked the way it was supposed to look, I thought they did a great job with it. I loved the music and the costumes and the energy they brought to it. That being said, I am of the opinion that maybe this style should have been reserved for the send off night, where they have been showcasing other styles of dance each week. When the most you can do in a critique is talk about how great it is to see different cultural works, maybe you aren’t really being fair to the other dancers who are being very specifically critiqued by experts in the dances they are performing. Any thoughts on that my faithful viewers? Nigel thought it was fabulous. Mary thought they were bound for stardom. Mia went on and on about how cool it is to see 100 dancers doing the same dance like this. (?) Again, is this really a critique?

BEST OF THE NIGHT
For me this is a hard thing to say after a night like tonight. I loved Will in his Contemporary, Katee in the Waltz, Twitch in the Krump, and Thayne in his Contemporary piece. As couples, I thought Gev and Courtney, Chelsie and Mark, and Joshua and Katee had the most success at nailing both of their dances.

WORST OF THE NIGHT
That Quickstep was for me the worst of the night, with the Smooth Tango right behind it.




THE TOP TEN
I have no idea what the judges will do tonight. It would stand to reason that Thayne and Comfort would go home, given the number of times they have been in the bottom (and don’t you think they will be in the bottom?). After this week, our power couples are no more, and each week chemistry will have to be redefined for each new partnership. This levels the playing field for all of the dancers, and it gives someone like Will a chance to prove that if given a different partner he could wow us with a great connection on stage.
I think this is an extraordinary group of dancers, and I will be very sad on Thursday nights for the duration of this season.

Bollywood

Thank you Caitlin for giving me the scoop on this form of dance. Here is an article that Caitlin sent me on this unique style of dance and also a link so that you can watch a couple perform the style on SYTYCD Australia.
Bollywood…

http://portal.en.bollywood-dance.de/bollywood/index.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiNxFPlGeNU


enjoy!

Spoiler For July 9th

The dances are up, but as always, I won't read the open threads where they actually discuss the dances, so I have to find my info through the rumor mill. I hope the part about Pasha and Anya is correct!!

1. Mark & Chelsie: Salsa - Alex DaSilva & Broadway - Tyce Diorio

2. Comfort & Thayne: Hip Hop - Napoleon and Tabitha & Contemporary - Mandy Moore

3. Will & Jessica: Contemporary - Tyce Diorio & Quickstep - Jean-Marc Generaux

4. Courtney & Gev: Cha Cha - Anya and Pasha!!! + Jazz - Mandy Moore

5. Twitch & Kherington: Krump - Lil C & Smooth Tango - Jean-Marc Generaux

6. Katee & Josh: Viennesse Waltz - Jean-Marc Generaux & Bollywood (?)

I am unfamiliar with the Bollywood style, and have no idea who the choreographer is. I have learned from my research that the jazz number that Mark and Chelsie did last week was a little Bollywood. Dance teachers, help me out here??

Matt & Khourtni Say Goodbye

I can't say I was at all surprised at this outcome, although I am really no longer interested in Comfort at this point. I truly didn't see Matt and Khourtni in the top 10 , so whether they went last week or this, it didn't make much difference to me. I think they are both gorgeous dancers, don't get me wrong, they just have not made an impact on this show (too many times in the bottom) and they failed to deliver on both of their numbers last week. The talent pool is too great this year, and you really can't afford to have a week where you are uninspired.
I loved Tyce's Cabaret piece, and I thought that (aside from Comfort's, which has been the same for three weeks) all of the solo's were impressive. This week will be interesting, as we can pretty much guarantee (on popularity that is) that Comfort, Thayne, Courtney, Gev, Will, and Jessica will be the bottom three couples. I just don't see the three power couples at the top messing up enough to hurt themselves. What will they do with this? Personally, I would love to send Comfort and Gev on their way. I think that with the right partnering, Thayne would make a great addition to the top 10, and wonder how much better he would have been paired with Courtney G.
Once we get through this week, all bets are off as far as the partnerships go-as everyone gets broken apart (another reason I think Matt and Khourtni had to go-what if she pulled Gev out of the hat?). I can't wait to see how things change after this week when both the partners and the dance styles are unpredictable.
I hope that these choreographers have left some tricks up their sleeve as we go through these next weeks. I can't wait for Wednesday,I have no engagements so the post will probably go up that evening!
Don't miss it...

The Top 14 Are Amazing

Last night my family of four attended the Cardinal game (yeah Troy Glaus) and when we came home made the sad discovery that our DVR had only taped the last 51 minutes of SYTYCD. Thankfully, Chris Schiller saved hers and let me come over and watch it after work, so this will be a feverish attempt to get the blog up before the show tonight. Can I say that I LOVE when we reach the point in the competition when the couples get two dances? This separates the dancers into those who are going to make that top 10 and be able to roll with learning mulitple styles in one week, and those who are reaching the end of the line. After tonight, it is pretty clear who will be in that top 10 and who will be performing for us at the show later this fall!! Tabitha and Napoleon were the guest judges last night, and we were introduced to some new choreographers. The show was so entertaining, so let's get started.



THE PERFORMANCES:

Jessica and Will danced a jive, choreographed by Tony Meredith and Melanie to "Choo Choo Ch' Boogie" from Five Guys Named Moe (Original Broadway Cast). I thought this number was cute, challenging, and I thought that Will looked like he was really thinking about the choreography versus performing it. I actually thought Jessica's performance was more relaxed and enjoyable, but overall the piece was forgettable for me. T & N loved the energy that happened after the big lift. Mary thought they missed some connections, but that it was a good performance. Nigel thought Jessica's weight was in the wrong place. I think they are always really hard on Jessica, and this time it was a combination of the style and both dancers that kept the number from working.

Comfort and Thayne danced a Broadway routine by Andy Blankenbuehler to "Cool" from West Side Story. I loved this choreography and thought that Thayne did a remarkable job with the style. I thought Comfort looked a little lazy with her legs in the kicks, but overall I thought they developed a chemistry pretty quickly together. T & N believed their chemistry. Mary was proud of Comfort. Nigel thought they would get boo'd off Broadway. I really disagree with Nigel, I enjoyed the number although more so because of Thayne than Comfort.

Kourtni and Matt did a Cecily and Olisa hip-hop routine to "How Do I Breathe" by Mario. This was just (in my daughter's words) lame. They did not dance in sync with each other, and Kourtni did not attack the movement. For me it was completely amateurish. I struggled to make myself watch the whole routine. T & N thought it was a good job, but not good enough. Mary didn't feel anything. Nigel said, "if I get my boo now, can I say what I want to say?"

Chelsea and Mark did a jazz routine choreographed by Mandy Moore to "Kiss Kiss" by Holly Vance. These two dancer's are fantastic and I was thoroughly entertained. Chelsie used her Latin training to add some spice to this piece and Mark was completely in tune with her. I have to agree with T & N when they say that they seem to be able to do any style together and make it work.Mary thought the chemistry was great. Nigel said they were the 1st couple of the evening to have a connection.

Kherrington and Twitch danced a paso doble by Tony Meredith and Melanie to "Malaguena " by the Brian Setzer '68 Comeback Special. After some of the other Paso Doble's we have seen, I am thinking of Travis and Heidi, Sara and Jesus, and Sabra and Neil, this one didn't really work for me. I love these two in a big way, but I didn't care for Twitch in this role and I didn't like what the hair people did to Kerrington. I thought she had great energy, but I didn't really like the cape work and the overall affect of the piece. T & N loved it, but felt that Twitch didn't bring it until halfway through. Mary thought it was full of passion, but technically wasn't there. Nigel thought Mary didn't give enough of a critique.

Katee and Joshua performed a contemporary routine by Mia Michaels to "Hometown Glory" by Adele. This piece was Mia in all her glory. From the second the music started the intensity of these two dancers was so moving and gorgeous that I think I held my breath. I loved every moment of this piece, and Joshu got it right when he said it was so much more than dancing. T & N were both blown away. Mary called it "monumental stillness." Nigel said it was so dynamic, and it was proof that these were 2 or 3 or 4 couples that would make this season of SYTYCD outstanding.

Gev and Courtney danced a hip-hop number by Cecily and Alyssa to "Lights, Camera, Action" by Mr. Cheeks. I think everyone agreed that Courtney outdanced Gev. I can't say much about this number. It was not my thing at all. I thought the costuming was ridiculous, the movement cartoonish, and the chemistry forced if at all. The judges all agreed that this was just okay.

Jessica and Will did their second routine to a Mandy More Lyrical Jazz number, "Alone" by Heart. Okay, I finally saw the Will that the choreographers see in rehearsal. This piece was so fantastic to watch, and I loved both of them in it. The technical level of this dance was very difficult, and the movement was not predictable. T & N started in on Jessica, but Mary complimented them both on their lines and their passion. Nigel also remarked that there were some meltdowns in rehearsals, but that they brought it on stage. I would like to hear more about that, but for now I will just watch it one more time.

Comfort and Thayne danced their second piece to an Edward Simons Smooth Waltz. The piece was set to "Hov Arek Sarer Jan" by Neew Age Armenia. This dance was gorgeous, and Comfort almost looked like a different woman altogether. I thought they made the lifts look effortless and that they looked very comfortable in the style. T & N really enjoyed it, but T thought Thayne's ending pose rang false. Mary loved it and she is the expert. Nigel thought it was smooth and very beautiful.

Kourtni and Matt did a mambo by Alex Da Silva to "Ban-Con-Tim " by Super All-Star. The long legs on these two just seemed to get in the way on the lifts in this piece. It was awkward, and there was not enough hips on either dancer to make this feel sexy. T & N thought it was rough. Mary didn't believe the chemistry. (what chemistry?) Nigel thought Matt needed to be more macho.

Chelsea and Mark performed their second dance to "It's My Life" by Paul Anka, a foxtrot choreographed for them by Edward Simons. I loved this piece, and thought it was like an old movie classic. These two are so professional, and really brought a level of joy to the number. T & N said you can just see every time they get on stage that they love to dance. Mary thought it was elegant. Nigel thought that Mark looked uncomfortable and was on his toes too much. (huh?)

Twitch and Kherrington danced their second piece to "Dreaming with a Broken Heart " by John Mayer, a contemporary piece by Mia Michaels. This will be the piece that everyone will remember because of the concept, the choreography, but most importantly the dancers. There was a moment where Twitch takes a deep breath, and I could feel it. Anyone who has ever had a loss could feel this emotion in this dance. Incredible. There was a build up to the moment when both dancers looked at each other, and the connection was heartbreaking and real T & N used words like awesome and amazing. Mary thought Mia outdid herself. Nigel said they connected and were believeable, and that any dancer that gets to work with Mia is lucky. This is really true.

Katee and Joshua did a west coast swing number choreographed by season two winner Benji Schwimmer. The piece was set to "Shake It" by Brother Yusef. I love Benji when he does his thing, and this choreography was fun and challenging and I thought they did a great job. Did they bring the quirkiness that Benji did? No, but I didn't mind. I love these two dancers. T & N thought they were on fire. Mary screamed. Nigel thoght they proved they can adapt to different styles easily.

Courtney and Gev did a Broadway routine by Andy Blankenbuehler to "New York, New York," by Bernstein, Comden and Green. The judges raved about it. I really did enjoy it, but there was something a little Parker Posey in Courtney's performance that smacked of "Waiting for Guffman". I almost get the giggles. For all the problems Gev had getting noticed in the hip hop routine, he was great in this!

BEST OF THE NIGHT.
Joshu and Katee's Contemporary
Twitch and Kherrington's Contemporary
Jessica and Will's Lyrical Jazz


WORST OF THE NIGHT

Courtney and Gev's hip-hop
Kourtni and Matt's hip-hop


I think that Matt and Kourtni will go, and if Comfort and Thayne don't really nail it next week, they will be right behind them. No question about the top four couples, It is that 5th spot in the top 10 that is up for grabs and next Wednesday will decide it.

Spoiler for July 2nd

Rumor has it that each couple performed two routines during the taping for this week. (I haven't found any confirmation on the order of performances yet, and probably won't have time to try.)
Twitch/Kherrington: Contemporary (Mia Michaels) and West Coast Swing (Benji Schwimmer)
Joshua/Katee: Contemporary (Mia Michaels) and Paso Doble
Kourtni/Matt: Hip Hop (Cicily & Olisa) and Mambo (Alex DiSilva)
Courtney/Gev: Hip Hop (Cicily & Olisa) and Broadway (Andy Blankenbuehler) from On the Town
Mark/Chelsie: Foxtrot(not sure) and Jazz (Mandy Moore) to "Hearts Alone"
Will/Jessica: Jive (not sure) and Lyrical Jazz (Mandy Moore)
Comfort/Thayne: Broadway (Andy Blankenbuehler) from West Side Story and Waltz (not sure)
I am not sure what to think about why they are already up to two numbers each-but I am excited. I also am not sure how Comfort is going to do with a waltz and a broadway routine.
The third judges are Napoleon and Tabitha

Hopefully the sources are correct-as this looks like it will be a great night of dance. On Thursday you can look forward to One Republic performing their new song.

Goodbye to Chris and Chelsie T.

I can't say that I am shocked to see these guys go, although I did like both of them a lot. I think that the judges made this happen with all the negativity toward their performances. I think that personally, they like Matt less than Chris, but what in the world can they do with Kourtni Lind (who I can tell they still are fascinated with)? I think if those two land in the bottom again this week they will both go home, simply because she is too tall to put with any of the other guys (except maybe Twitch, but those two aren't going to be in the bottom three for a long time!)
It never takes me too long to get emotionally attached to these dancers, and this season is no exception. I have a feeling in another week I will be sad each and every week to see these talented dancers go home.
Did anyone else give a few of the numbers this week a replay? I sure did.This week's group number was really amazing and unique. It reminded me of Cirque and their bizarre clowns. That Mia Michaels will try about anything. Anybody catch the name of that song? We had a map in the bottom corner with severe thunderstorm warnings blocking the name and artist.
Tune in Wednesday my dance friends....

The Top 16 Deliver

Now this was an interesting show! Adam Shenkman was our guest judge for the evening and started by telling Cat Deeley that she looked Catastic. (oh my). I was completely entertained, and enjoyed the diversity in the choreography, as well as the energy and passion each of the dancers brought to the floor. As has been in the last several weeks, I had a couple of moments where I completely disagreed with the judges critique, but more about that later.
I am thrilled that they are starting to bring in new choreographers-although Sonya makes Mia look like Doris Day. My choreographer buddies need to send in some tapes (word to you MEX Girls)and see what happens. This week the contestants were asked to reveal something about their partners that no one else would know. Once again this gave a few dancers the chance to charm their way into our hearts (Kherington's shoe addiction-like what is wrong with that?). It also allowed Matt to divulge the whole Ninja mask thing, which was unfortunate. Dom from Season 3 was in the house and the whole place supercharged waiting for the dancing to begin. Let's talk:

1.Kherington and Twitch - Hip Hop (Napoleon and Tabitha)Don't Touch Me by Busta Rhymes
The story line on this dance was a Prison Break,which was perfect for these two, who easily infused comedy into the performance. I didn't really care for the jumpsuit, but I understood what they were going for. I was so impressed with Kherington. She is NOT just a beautiful smile, but she brought the funk. There is something about both of these dancers in their interview process, work ethic and performance that makes them unforgettable-even in that deadly first position of the evening. Was this my absolute favorite hip-hop number from this show? No, I think Twitch could have wowed and amazed us with tricks and power. That being said, I LOVED the way they delivered it, their commitment to the story and the sincerity they give to every performance. Plus Kherington can pulls this face that looks so much like my Teeny it cracks me up! These two have that indescribable "IT" factor. Nigel pretended as if he would list the good qualities in the dance and then the bad-but there wasn't anything negative he could say. Mary loved it. Adam gave tips for the future, because he thinks they will be around a long time!


2.Courtney and Gev - Rumba (Tony Meredith)Wishing on a Star by Rose Royce
These two are growing on me and after a slow start (did anyone else think that Courtney was never going to get down Gev's leg to the floor?) the two of them delivered a technically sound and sexy Rumba. Courtney looked amazing in her dress (which pervy Nigel had to point out that half of it was missing)and I am pretty sure Gev was not acting when he was staring Courtney down during this piece. Maybe it is their smallness, but both Courtney and Gev seem so young to me. I really enjoyed everything about this dance. The judges all enjoyed it as well.

3.Comfort and Chris - Jazz (Tyce Diorio)Beautiful People by Marilyn Manson
I was really pulling for these two. Despite the fact that technically I haven't seen the kind of performance from them to put them in the same league as a few of the other dancers-I really like them. I thought they came out strong and I thought that Chris gave a great performance. My problem with this piece was completely with the music. I have seen this music danced to at several dance competition, and (surprise) the hair is always a mess, there is always black make-up all over the eyes, and the movement is always animal like. I didn't see anything African about it, besides (apparently, according to Comfort) Comfort's dad? I thought they worked hard together, and that it was clean, but that awful music just took away from it for me. Nigel, Mary and Adam thought they didn't bring enough energy, and basically put the fault on the dancers. I completely disagree. I thought they committed to the piece, but that the choreography wasn't cohesive. It certainly wasn't their fault that they only used the fabric for 15 seconds of the dance. I am a huge Tyce fan, but this one just didn't quite capture whatever it was he was going for.Unfortunately, with the huge amount of negativity from the judges paired with the awful music, I think these guys will be doing solos tomorrow night.

4.Jessica and Will - Disco (Doriana Sanchez)Heaven Must Have Sent You by Bonnie Pointer
Doriana has to get a little firm with Jessica, who apparently can't get serious. Both Will and Jessica launch into trick after trick, which apparently makes them confused, because at one point one or both of them forgot what was next. From there ensued a moment of blank stares as Jessica got off the floor for the 3rd time and not very easily I might add. The last 30 seconds of them struggling to finish the choreography, ended with Will falling out of his pose and Jessica quickly putting her arm down to make it look like they were supposed to fall. From this mess, the judges gave the utmost praise. I don't get it. We had to all watch Will do his Saturday Night Fever pose and hear how authentic and great the pose was, never mind that the couple forgot the choreography and fell out of the final pose. I don't care how great they were as individuals, I would not watch that piece again. I think they will be in the bottom 3 couples. Three weeks running we have heard about Will's superiority to the other dancers in the competition, and three weeks running I have yet to see it on the dance floor. Maybe if they give him a new partner he will work it out?

5.Chelsea and Thayne - Quickstep (Heather Smith)You Can't Hurry Love by Phil Collins
What was Heather thinking with this music? The music didn't work with the rhythm of this dance AT ALL. As hard as these two worked, it didn't look like very much fun (despite the big fake smiles). I am not a huge fan of the quickstep, but definitely the last three seasons dancers have made it look a little less arduous. I thought Thayne looked less stressed out than Chelsea, she almost vanished from the piece. When Nigel said to her, "when we lose your personality, we lose you" he was dead on. Mary thought Chelsea let Thayne down. Adam loved the ending pose. It was great, but it takes a lot more than a pose for me. They will be in the bottom three for certain, Chelsie may end up going home on this one.

6.Kourtni and Matt - Contemporary (Sonya Tayeh)Wrestlers by Hot Chip
This vision of a comic strip come to life was the complete package. The choreography was quirky, but with such incredibly different movement than we have seen on this show-I totally loved it. Both dancers technically were perfect, but Kourtni stood out for me. Her character was so believable, I saw her in a completely different way. Unfortunately for Matt, I can't get over the Ninja mask. As beautiful of a dancer as he is-and I really do appreciate his technique and lines, he is just getting stranger every week-and not in a good way. As far as the choreography, I am not sure the mainstream could take a steady diet of Sonya Tayeh, but I was thrilled to see something unique that was executed so well. The judges seemed to enjoy it, but Adam was with me, the ninja mask should have stayed a secret.

7.Chelsie and Mark - Hip Hop (Napoleon and Tabitha)Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis
The story behind this piece was a workaholic leaving his love, who desperately wants him to stay. I am not sure that Chelsie captured all of the nuances of popping, but this dance was fantastic, one of my favorites of the entire night. The emotion from both of them, was so powerful and compelling. Week after week these two keep coming out with strong performances, and the connection between them is complex and rich. You see them joking like brother and sister in their interviews-aggravating each other and having fun, and then they break out this amazingly passionate intensity on stage that takes you by surprise. They will be around for a long time. The judges loved it, and Adam even said they were the couple to beat.

8.Katee and Joshua - Samba (Tony Meredith)Baila Baila by Angela Via
Joshua comes off so little boy like in his interviews, with his braces and that sweet smile. The minute the music starts, that boy becomes a man, and from the first step down those stairs, he takes control of his partner and it is HOT. The sexual tension in this number was fantastic, and the two of them looked like they had been doing this type of dance for years. This couple is still one of my favorites so far, they work so well together. I loved the music, the lifts, the costumes and I even liked Katee's hair straightened. She looks so much like a dancer I know (Cindy Loo-Hoo)that at times I think I know this girl! Joshua brings so much passion and Katee is amazingly versatile. It makes me want to take up Latin dancing for myself. The judges were blown away, and the night ended on a perfect note!

Top 3 Couples
Katee & Joshua, Chelsie & Mark, & Kherington & Twitch

Bottom 3 Couples
Chelsie & Thayne, Comfort & Chris, Will & Jessica

Going home-????

Can't wait for tonight my friends!!

Tune in Tonight

I thought I would share this link, which is an interesting appeal to the editors of SYTYCD.
http://levyonteevee.blogspot.com/2008/06/im-calling-you-out-editors-and-lighting.html

I too have been perplexed at times at the way they have cut some of the dances. I also have been perplexed at the shoving of Will down our throats. This show is more than a show about professional dancers. Otherwise Marquis would still be here after his solo last week and Chris would have gone home.

I am pumped for this evening's show, and be advised my blog may be incoherent tomorrow-as I am playing dice this evening and will not be viewing until at least 10pm my time!
Tune in tonight...

Top 16 Spoiler Alert

Don't read any further if you aren't interested in the upcoming show line-up and who picked which dance out of the hat. As always, I have not included any subjective material about how these were actually executed-I won't even read that!

Third judge tomorrow night is Adam Shankman!

1.Kherington and Twitch - Hip Hop (Napoleon & Tabitha)

2.Courtney and Gev - Rumba (Tony Meredith)

3.Comfort and Chris - Jazz (Tyce Diorio)

4.Jessica and Will - Disco (Doriana Sanchez)

5.Chelsea and Thayne - Quickstep (Heather Smith)

6.Kourtni and Matt - Contemporary (Sonya Tayeh)

7.Chelsie and Mark - Hip Hop (Napoleon & Tabitha)

8.Katee and Joshua - Samba (Tony Meredith)

For anyone interested in Mary Murphy's take on the controversial elimination last week, here is a link to an interview:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2008/06/destination-s-3.html

I also have included a link about Jean-Marc Genereaux and family:

http://www.studio665.com/newsletters/03.25.04.html/

The Top 18

THE TOP 18 PERFORM
Dan Karaty got the night off, and Mia joined the judges’ panel. She started by telling Cat that this year’s show was going to be “Banoodles” the talent was so unique. Cat reminded us that we lost Rayven and Jamie last week. On that note, I would like to say a word about the elimination show. I thought Kourtni; Matt & Will’s solos were amazing. The remaining soloists were not memorable. I thought the group number was funny, and strange, and I loved the music. I thought the costuming took away from its overall effectiveness, as I found myself trying to figure out hairdos and not really watching the overall dance.
Back to last night. Cat’s dress and shoes made her seem even more gigantic, if that is possible. Sometimes I am not sure about the person in charge of dressing her. Before each segment begins, the dancers were asked to say what thing they like most about their partner and least. This process helped a few of the dancer’s, whose personalities haven’t been showcased yet. Let’s talk about the dancing.


THE PERFORMANCES

1.Thayne & Chelsea T (Jazz w/ Mandy Moore - "Untouched," The Veronicas)
Sometimes an idea just doesn’t translate onto the stage. From the first moment of this piece, I didn’t get it. Last week, I thought Thayne was extremely manly in the way he looked at Chelsea and moved her across the stage, and they were extremely sexy together. This week I thought the music was awful, the chemistry was completely off, and the costumes made Thayne look effeminate and Chelsea look ridiculous. I think maybe Mandy saw the success that Mia had with the “Two Kings” piece and wanted a go at that concept. I was bored to tears. Thayne couldn’t touch Neil and Danny’s commitment to the throne. Mia thought they were kicked off the train. Mary said it didn’t work. Nigel said it wasn’t believable, which was probably the biggest problem.

2. Mark & Chelsie H (Argentine Tango w/ Alex Da Silva - "Mi Confesión," Gotan Project)
As weird as Mark looks offstage, and as much playing around as the two of them did during rehearsal this week, when it came time to dance, Mark led her around that Tango like a hungry man. The footwork was really complicated and amazing, and his intensity was incredible. At one point it looked like he was going to kiss her throat and it was so sexy. I had already really liked these two after last week’s performance, and I think they solidified their popularity after their interviews and performance tonight. Mia loved them. Mary loved everything about it. Nigel needed a little more sex from Chelsea H. we can’t get people too worked up during these dances!

3. Will & Jessica (Hip-Hop w/ Cecily & Olisa - "Whatever U Like," Nicole Scherzinger)
Okay, I know that the judges have seen much more of the individual talents during Vegas and at rehearsals, but I am not getting the crazed Will feedback. This number was okay, but I was not blown away by either of them. I was more blown away by how the judges found so much brilliance in Will’s performance. I thought it looked too studio hip-hop minus any Urban rawness -maybe it was the use of the chairs. I certainly saw nothing remarkable in either dancer either week to warrant the praise that has been given. Is this Debbie Allen’s influence? Mia thought Will was so good that Jessica didn’t get herself noticed. Mary thought Jessica was too powder puffy. Nigel thought she did a great job and that Will be in the top 4. I just don’t get it after that performance. The judges better be careful. William could be gone faster than Allison was in Season 2, if the viewing public feels that he is getting preferential treatment. He also needs to become a real person to the audience, because you have Joshua out there with all of that humbleness and personality waiting to take all of Will’s votes.

4. Matt & Kourtni L (Foxtrot w/ Jean-Marc Genereaux - "A Foggy Day (In London Town, Michael Bouble),"
The interview process didn’t exactly help Matt out. Everyone else remarked on personality traits that they liked about their partners. Matt said his favorite feature was Kourtni’s eyes and that he gets lost in them. It was really creepy and awkward. I was actually really proud of these two when they started dancing. I thought they had clean technique and Matt seemed much more comfortable than last week. I thought they made the lifts look easier, and that they brought a class and elegance to the dance, and I was entertained. Mia thought Matt brought it, but that Kourtni needed to own her size. Mary, who actually knows about this style of dancing, was disappointed because of the footwork not being close. Nigel said that they needed to work on not being fake. Oh well, I liked it, and I hope these two can avoid the bottom this week.

5. Gev & Courtney G (Contemporary w/ Mandy Moore - "Lost," Anouk)
I am partial to contemporary dancing, and I enjoyed the intricate partnering that took place in this piece. I can’t say that I was blown away by it. I thought that Courtney’s hair kept distracting me from getting a read on the emotion in her face. Although I was impressed that Gev was able to bring as much to the dance as he did, I was not left with that desire to rewind and replay (as I did with the Mia piece and the hip-hop piece from last week). Technically I think it worked, but I am not sure that these two have developed chemistry together. It was lacking that little bit of magic that you have to have in a love story. Mia thought that Courntey brought too much jazz to it (?) but was really proud of Gev. Mary loved it. Nigel thought it was danced well but was lacking in emotion.

6.Joshua & Katee (Broadway w/ Tice DiOrio - "All for the Best," Godspell)
Can I just say that these two are quickly becoming my favorite couple? I LOVED it! The energy was manic and crazy, and they both kept up with it and performed at the same time. About halfway through the piece when the music started to quicken, you could feel the crowd starting to come alive, which just took the dancers to an even higher performance level. As far as the interview process goes, these two have that nailed as well. They present themselves well, and their connection to each other is just as powerful offstage as on. Nigel gave it a standing ovation. Mary said something about Satisfaction Guaranteed. Mia said it was Amazing.

7. Marquis & Susie (Salsa w/ Alex Da Silva - "Agualine," Willie Colón & Hectgor Lavoe)
Susie shouldn’t have shared that Marquis has bad breath from all the chips he eats before they rehearse. Her obvious disgust not only caused my lips to curl, but it made me think a little less of her as well. This dance should have been her cup of tea, but just as with the waltz last week, things appear to be a struggle for the pair. When Susie went down into her split, I didn’t think Marquis was going to get her back up again. They did one stunt where the audience gasped, I think it was because they both had a look on their face like “I sure hope we pull this off”, and there was nothing sexy about it. These two could go home and I would not miss them at all. All three judges were disappointed.

8. Twitch & Kherington (Viennese Waltz w/ Jean-Marc Genereaux - "A New Day Has Come," Celine Dion)
I have done a lot of kidding about Jean-Marc being Joe Pesci over the years that I have been blogging this show, but I have a new appreciation for him after tonight. It is hard for me to critique something that is so personal. I thought that Kherington floated through the piece. I thought the costumes and the choreography made them both look weightless and gorgeous, and they made me fall in love with the Waltz (which I have not really liked in four seasons). I don’t know how fair it is when a couple gets a handed a piece of choreography like this, (when others are getting the prince and the forbidden love) but I do believe that this piece worked because of the joy that the two of them brought to it. You could tell they both felt a huge responsibility to make this special for Jean-Marc. Mia went on and on about how she thought Kherington smiled too much which sparked an argument with Nigel, who completely disagreed. The love put into this waltz from its idea to execution had a huge impact. I have nothing but awe and respect for this man who would create something so beautiful, for the smile he would see in his disabled daughter’s eyes.

9. Chris & Comfort (Krump w/ Lil'C - "Come and Get Me," Timbaland f/ 50 Cent & Tony Yayo)
I really like these two dancers. The interview with Chris cracked me up. It is unfortunate that they got stuck with the only form of dance that I dislike more than the Waltz. Their performance of it was just as awful as I expected it to be from watching the rehearsal. I think Lil’C was trying to make the movement slow enough for Chris to catch on. He needn’t have bothered, because fast or slow-Chris is not a krumper. The only thing he succeeded in doing was taking away from Comfort’s performance as she tried to dial back to Chris. I thought they handled the criticism from the judges well (especially when Nigel said Chris danced like a toddler who had to go pee) and hopefully their likeability factor will keep them in it another week.

RANDOM OBSERVATIONS
What was up with Jessica pushing her boobs around?
Was Chelsie H’s pinky out of her shoe the entire performance?
Was anyone else amazed at how little Gev and Courntey were? Next to them, Cat was frightening.
Was anyone else a little disappointed in Mandy Moore’s choreography this evening?
Would anyone miss Krump if they took it out of the line-up?

BEST OF THE NIGHT
Katee & Joshua, Chelsie H & Mark, and Twitch & Kherington

WORST OF THE NIGHT
Susie & Marquis

The Top 20 Deliver

Did everyone enjoy that as much as I did? As the evening began, Dan Karaty said this was the first season where the top 20 talent was so high that it was any one's game. There are so many really interesting dancers and I am completely invested after last night. Nigel was a little creepy in his assessment of Cat's beauty and long legs, actually he has been kind of a lech this entire season. Mary needs some new material, but Dan seemed to give the most helpful advice after each dancer's performance.

1. Rayven Armijo & Jamie Bayard-Hip-Hop

Napoleon and Tabitha choreographed a humorous dance that only slightly resembled hip-hop to me, to "American Boy". Rayven had a few annoying moments with her facials, but I loved when she pantsed Jamie, and thought he was quite cute. I have a feeling they will be in the bottom, only because this dance wasn't enough to survive the killer first slot. There were too many memorable numbers as the night went on to go back and remember the special moments in this one. I hope they both do enough when dancing for their lives, as I did enjoy their performance and we certainly haven't seen either of them perform in their particular dance style.
Nigel thought it was pretty good, but worried if people would pick up the phone at the end of the show. Mary likened it to cotton candy and said she loved it. Dan said it was not quite there, there was no funk, and the dance stayed at the same level throughout the piece, when it needed to change.
2. Susie Garcia & Marquis Cunningham-Waltz

Hunter Johnson choreographed this difficult number to "Dark Waltz"
I tried to keep my distaste for the waltz out of my assessment of these dancers. It wasn't easy. I think Susie had some nice lines and I do think the choreography was challenging, but the lifts were awkward and they didn't have chemistry. For me it was a bottom three performance.
Nigel thought it was well done. Mary thought they pulled it off. Dan thought it was almost perfect, smooth and sexy. What the heck do I know?

3. Kourtni Lind & Matt Dorame-Jazz

Mandy Moore choreographed an interesting number to Tainted Love for these two tall dancers. Kourtni was fully committed to the piece and really stood out. Matt was very ballet like, and his smile didn't feel like it was what the dance called for. Perhaps it was nerves? Nigel said he was too uptight and it was like he had a stick up his butt. Mary thought it was sexy. Dan said great choreography, great dancers, so-so performance. I think they will be okay this time around.
4. Chelsea Traille & Thayne Jasperson- Cha Cha

Tony Meredith choreographed a very sexy number to Oye Con Va. I was instantly in love with these two. Chelsea has so much sizzle on stage and Thayne is a doll! He gave her some passionate looks that made my little heart skip a beat. My friend Chris thought it didn't showcase either of them like it could have. (Yes, the SYTYCD viewer parties have begun, and will probably keep growing as the weeks go on). I want more of these two! Nigel thought they were both terrific. Mary put them both on the hot tamale train. Oh my. Here we go again. Dan thought they were sexy and that they owned the stage.

5. Chelsie Hightower & Mark Kanemura-Contemporary

Mia Michael's created her vision of Tim Burton's wedding to the song " Beautiful", in this ultra avaunte guarde piece that I had to watch a couple of times. I have to say that when they literally pulled their lips, all I could say to the girls was "if only I could hear what my dad was saying right now". Call me Nate-I have got to know what you thought of that one! I thought it was creepy, strange and had some absolutely spellbinding moments. When Mark whispered in Chelsie's ear and she started laughing, she was absolutely amazing. The lifts were remarkable and I was completely transported by the story. Nigel thought they both danced brilliantly and that Mia captured the essence of both dancers in the choreography. Mary said if she had a hat she would take it off.sigh. Dan remarked that it must have been quite the experience to be inside Mia's head for a while, and he loved it. I really loved it too.

6. Kherington Payne & Twitch-Broadway

I first have to just say that I love Tyce DiOrio. I will be shocked if "Twitchington" doesn't make it to the top 10. Both dance with such absolute joy that it is infectious. I couldn't take my eyes of Kherington's gorgeous smile. I couldn't tell you a thing about the technical aspects of this piece, but from an entertainment standpoint, I really enjoyed it. My friend Andrea choreographed a piece to "Too Darn Hot" and I prefered the way she had cut the music much more than this version, but it didn't take away from this performance. Nigel thought it was stunning. Mary said to look up because the sprinklers were going to turn on it was so hot. It is going to be a long season if Mary doesn't increase her repertoire. Dan thought that they lit up the stage.

7. Comfort Fedoke & Chris Jarosz-Jive

Tony Meredith put together an intensely fun piece to "Boom Boom". Chris caught my eye immediately, since Nigel had said he had the personality of a tree on stage during Vegas. He was in character the entire piece, and Comfort seemed to hold her own for pretty much of the number. She cracked me up when she told Nigel she had never danced in a bra and panties with beads on them. Nigel let the audience know that she had dislocated her shoulder (click click, as Comfort said) in the rehearsal, and that the choreography had to be changed to accommodate her injury. He also thought technically it wasn't quite where it needed to be, but he liked it. Mary thought she had legs for days and told them it was a good job. Dan thought they did well, but they needed to work on their chemistry with each other. Dan had it going on tonight.

8. Katee Shean & Joshua Allen-Hip Hop

Tabitha and Napoleon choreographed a sensitive routine to "No Air" and the story was a soldier leaving his love for war. I instantly was thinking it would be way too hokey. From the second that Katee started dancing I was completely involved. For me this was the piece of the night and I probably watched it 3 times. Both Katee and Joshua were so connected emotionally to each other and were 110% committed to the choreography. I loved it!
Nigel said it was very, very good. Mary said it was tremendous. Dan said they killed it. Wow, what a great addition these two choreographers have already made to this show.

9. Jessica King & William Wingfield- Tango

Hunter Johnson put together a very complex Tango to (and it just my opinion) a really unsexy song called simply-Tango. They are a very likable couple, but Jessica was extremely shaky at unexpected times and although they acted the part very well, I wasn't sold on the dancing.
Nigel thought it was professional and that Will was majestic. Mary thought they were the couple to beat. (Are you kidding me?) Dan thought they each played their part, but it wasn't that great. I still want to see these two in a contemporary piece together, but this was not something I wanted to re watch.

10. Courtney Galiano & Gev Manoukian-Disco

Doriana Sanchez gave us Neil and Sara's fantastic "knock on wood last year" so I was hopeful because I really love both of these dancers. I thought they captured the energy and the vibe with this choreography to "Boogie Wonderland", but there was a little something missing in the number that I can't quite put my finger on. Nigel railed on it, saying it was not good. Mary really liked it and Dan enjoyed it as well. I don't think they have anything to worry about yet, but they are up against some fantastic dancers so they will have to kill it if they are in the bottom three.

Tune in tonight my dance loving friends. I can't wait to see the group piece and some fabulous solos. I think that Susie Garcia and Marquis Cunningham will go home. I can't tell you why, it is just a gut feeling. This is going to be a fantastic season!

Step It Up and Dance Winner Talks

For those Cody Green fans out there, here is an interview for you to watch.
You will have to watch it via the SYTYCD blogspot, but that is a good thing to get in your list of favorites, as it is the best blogspot out there for dance, with easy to navigate links to interviews and newspaper articles.

http://bloggingsytycd.blogspot.com/2008/06/cody-green-interview.html

If you missed the show and would like to see Cody's solo, I believe you can watch it on Bravo's official website for Step it Up and Dance.

SPOILER ALERT-DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE PAIRS

Good old Ducky always seems to find out the scoop on who is paired with who, so I thought I would share for those who are getting pumped up for this evening.

1. Rayven Armijo & Jamie Bayard-Hip-Hop
2. Susie Garcia & Mrquis Cunningham-Waltz
3. Kourtni Lind & Matt Dorame-Jazz (supposedly with Mandy Moore)
4. Chelsea Traille & Chris Jarosz- Cha Cha
5. Chelsie Hightower & Mark Kanemura-Contemporary (rumor is with Mia Michael's)
6. Kherington Payne & Twitch-Broadway
7. Comfort Fedoke & Thayne Jasperson-Jive
8. Katee Shean & Joshua Allen-Hip Hop
9. Jessica King & William Wingfield- Tango
10. Courtney Galiano & Gev Manoukian-Disco

I will never share spoilers about the actual show and how the judges perceived the dances on this blogspot. I won't even read those, as I like to have an unbiased response. As a non-dancer commenting on a dance show, I don't necessarily catch technical errors-especially in ballroom.
Which pairings am I most excited about??? 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, & 10. I think I have been pretty open in my last three seasons of blogging on this show with regard to my boredom factor with the waltz. The other three pairs I just don't know enough about to be excited about. I hope they surprise me!!
I look forward to your comments friends!

The Top 20

I have to hand it to the producer's for keeping Vegas week short and sweet and getting our top 20 to us in record time. As usual, there are several rounds of cuts after different styles of choreography. The judges during Vegas week were Nigel, Mary and Mia, but this time Tabitha and Napoleon and the very blunt Debbie Allen joined them. Round one cuts were after the contestants performed a hip/hop routine by Tabitha and Napoleon. Round two was a Broadway Jazz routine by Tyce DiOrio. Round three was a Jean Marque Foxtrot, and round four was a contemporary routine by Mia Michaels. The cuts took care of Claire of the Season 2 injury, the pageant girl, and both of the ballroom couples that we saw during auditions.
As is typical of SYTYCD, we ended up with some dancers in our top 20 that didn't receive too much airtime and so how they stack up is a complete mystery. From what I saw of the auditions, there is only one dancer that I am kind of grossed out that made it, but I am getting ahead of myself.
After the four rounds, the remaining dancers were randomly put into groups and had to stay up all night choreographing a routine to music pulled out of a hat. The dancers who survived that, roughly 47, ended up doing their solos and waiting in the holding room to learn their fate.
Here are the top 20 Girls:
COURTNEY GALLIANO-Courtney impressed at the auditions, and is a 20 year old fireball from Queens, New York with the big Italian family. This selection is no surprise to me at all and I think she will be fun to watch in this competition.
CHELSIE HIGHTOWER-Chelsie is an 18 year old ballroom dancer from Utah that had tons of free publicity during the audition process. She is darling, but not having seen much of her during Vegas week, she could be the next Faina, who knows?
SUSIE GARCIA-This 25 year old Flamenco dancer also is skilled at Salsa and Latin dancing. My favorite part of her in Vegas week was when Debbie Allen told her to go put some clothes on. I am not a fan, and was flabbergasted that she took Kelli Baker's place in the top 20.
CHELSEA TRAILLE-This 23 year old from Texas is a contemporary and jazz funk dancer. I have no memory of her audition, but loved what I saw of her solo during Vegas week.
KOURTNI LIND-Kourtni is an 18 year old from Minnesota whose dance to a spoken word piece during auditions was wonderful. She is a contemporary dancer with a unique look.
KHERINGTON PAYNE-I had a feeling this darling 18 year old from California would have that look that would make for great TV. I think she is darling, and from the little bit of performing that I saw, she dances with great joy. She was not a surprise for me.
JESSICA KING-We didn't really meet this 23 year old from South Carolina until the group number drama, with Derek of "I am too good for this choreography". It was pretty funny that this dancer who loves all styles of dance made it and Derek and his big mouth went packing. He was not the only one-Liz of tap blew her chances with her mouth as well.
RAYVEN ARMIJO-Rayven is a contemporary ballet girl who is the oldest of the girls. At 28, she is from California and the most we saw of her dancing was a snippet of her on point.
COMFORT FEDOKE-Is 20 year old hip-hop and popper from Texas who won me over with her foxtrot. I have never seen someone so clearly out of their element, try so hard.
KATEE SHEAN-Katee is a 20 year old California girl who almost blew her chance at the top 20 by insinuating that if she weren't picked over her best friend, she wouldn't try again. I think the judges were pretty harsh and I don't think Katee expressed herself well. I am glad she is getting a chance to prove she should be there, because I loved her contemporary audition.
Now for the top 20 Boys:
JOSHUA ALLEN-the 19 year old Texas native was Comfort's partner at the foxtrot. He did some amazing leaps, and Debbie Allen speculated aloud that he has had more training than a typical hip hop artist. If he can get the crybaby stuff under control, I think he will impress us.
TWITCH (A.K.A. STEPHEN BOSS)-Loved this 25 year old freestyler last season and I so excited to see him partnered up and attempting new styles.
THAYNE JASPERSON-At 27, Thayne is the oldest of the boys, and is a ballet/jazz guy from Utah. I have almost no knowledge of what he is about, so I can't wait for Wednesday to see!
MATTHEW DORAME-Matthew is 22, from Arizona, and wowed me with his lyrical dance at the auditions (despite the basketball shorts). I think he is darling with a ton of personality.
MARQUIS CUNNINGHAM-This New Jersey native is 18 and a lyrical contemporary dancer that also remains a little mysterious due to lack of on air time.
MARK KANEMURA-Mark did some contemporary modern funk when dancing for his life in Vegas that cracked me up. He is 24, from Hawaii, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with on the show.
CHRIS JAROSZ-This 21 year old Texan was worried about his chances given all the contemporary dancers picked this season. I was too, since I really had no idea who he was before he marched on stage and found out he had made it. His specialty is modern, but the judges said he had the personality of a tree on stage so he better bring it.
WILLIAM WINGFIELD-The 21 year old from Tennessee stole the spot from Brandon Bryant, of this I am certain. His contemporary audition to a spoken word piece was really solid, and from the clips of his time in Vegas, we will be in for some amazing leaps and tricks.
JAMIE BAYARD-All we know about this ballroom dancer is that he is 22 and is from California.
GEV MANOUKIAN-The 21 year old Russian Ice breaker now lives in Utah. I guess since Robert Muraine opted to leave the competition without attempting choreography, and obviously Philip Chbeeb didn't fare well either, we were left needing a breaker. I thought Gev's audition very interesting, and I am hoping he does well.

There you have it folks, your top 20. I don't know about you, but I am now officially pumped to get the party started. There is always a break out piece of choreography in the first show, so I am excited and anxious to see what happens in two days. Tune in as the competition begins....